1755 – Henry McCulloh designated as his agents his nephew Alexander McCulloch [for whom he had earlier secured an appointment as deputy auditor for North Carolina and who was a member of Dobbs’s Council] and John Campbell.

patents from Gabriel Johnston, Royal Governor
6 June 1739 Alexander McCulloh 100 acres in New Hanover Co, joining Seracty and the swamp
6 June 1739 Alexander McCulloh 640 acres in New Hanover Co on the E side of the NE branch of Cape Fear River, joining a Swamp above Mare branch.
20 April 1745 Alexander McCulloch 150 acres in New Hanover Co on the head or forks of the branch being the North East branch of the Black River, joining the Eastward of the sd. branch
6 April 1749 Alexander McCulloch 500 acres in Bladen Co on the NE side of Great P D joining above the mouth of Great creek and the river side.
6 April 1749 Alexander McCulloch 1000 acres in New Hanover Co on the NE side of Black river or Hoe branch being a prong of the NE branch of sd river, joining Houstons Land, sd branch and the river.
7 Oct 1749 Alexander McCullock 300 acres in New Hanover Co upon Panter Swamp, joining the swamp and near Gum branch
11 Oct 1749 Alexander McCullock/McCulloh 100 acres in New Hanover Co on the East side of Hoe branch or the N E Branch of black river near his tract of 1000 acres lately taken up by him on the sd. branch…..

patents from Arthur Dobbs, Royal Governor
10 Oct 1755 Alexander McCulloch 398 acres in Duplin Co on the E. side of the Ten Mile Swamp.
7 Oct 1756 Alexander McCulloh 300 acres in Anson Co on the SW side of Pe Dee river joining the E side of Brown Creek by a spring opposite Richard Spaights 400 acres on the sd creek….
5 Dec 1757 Alexander McCulloh 200 acres in New Hanover Co on the E side of Long Creek on Mardon Branch called Stoney run near Mardons Land, joining the NW side of the sd branch.
1 July 1758 Alex. McCulloh 400 acres in Anson Co on the SW side of the Pee Dee river joining both sides of Richardsons creek – being Seatles and Franks fifth.
21 Oct 1758 Alexander McCulloch 200 acres in Anson Co on the E. side of the S fork of Cautaubaw River below Philip Rudisell on Hoits Mill Creek about a mile above the mill joining the E bank of the sd creek.
10 May 1760 Alexander McCulloch 100 acres in Duplin Co on Kings Branch joining Henry McCulloch and a small branch.
“Colony of North Carolina 1735 -1764 Abstracts of Land Patents” by Margaret M Hofman
Both Alexander McCulloch and Henry E. McCulloh and Richard Speight were members of Gov. Dobb’s Council
[Wheeler and Moore say that my James Jones was also a member of his council –no mention in the records]

Sarah Hill 1716 – 1771 age 55
married ca 1736 Alexander I McCulloch 1715 Ireland – 1799 Halifax Co NC age 84 son of Henry McCulloch and grandson of James of Grogan

James Iredell (JI) notes that Henry McCulloch, a Scotsman married a daughter of James McCulloch of Grogan by his first wife, and this Henry McCulloch had a son Alexander McCulloch of Halifax Co, NC. Secretary Henry brings a letter with him to North Carolina in March 1755 from Alexander McAuley (who could be relatives of the McCulloch‚Äôs with a very different spelling of the name) in Ireland which asks Governor Dobbs to assist Alexander McCulloch in finding a better placement, which Dobbs promises to do. . .He now remembers to mention the connection of Henry McCulloch, father of Alexander, but forgets his error above.

JI mentions at this point that Alexander McCulloch is a cousin to Henry Eustace McCulloh, but Henry McCulloh is omitted from the children of James of Grogan,.

This is further emphasized by the last part of the last sentence below. ‚ÄúAlexander . . . is first cousin by the half blood to . . . Henry Eustace McCulloch the only surviving child of Henry McCulloch Esq, the brother of William and James‚Äù JI is stating that Henry McCulloh (d 1779) is the brother of William and James the other sons he listed as the children of James McCulloch of Grogan. Several letters between Henry Eustace and James Iredell also refer to him as cousin

Now we have a Henry McCulloch as the father of Alexander McCulloch. He has given the Secretary the status of a son of James McCulloch of Grogan. The Secretary is obviously someone well connected with the family or Iredell would not have even though of him. After all, the Secretary died 18 years before Iredell set down the genealogy. He died in North Carolina when Iredell was only 4 years old in Bristol , England . Why would the late Secretary been known to Iredell let alone come to his mind when he is thinking of the sons of JMG?

If Henry the Secretary is not Alexander‚Äôs father, what position does he have in the McCulloch family?

Iredell is well acquainted with Col Alexander as he refers to him, and Alexander‚Äôs son Benjamin. If Alexander were Henry the Secretary‚Äôs son, this would provide a connection that would refresh Iredell‚Äôs memory of the connection.

The Secretary‚Äôs daughter, Dorothy Berisford McCulloch McClintock, names her first child Alexander-Henry McClintock (Burke‚Äôs Landed Gentry 1834 &1855). This implies a fairly close connection between Alexander and Henry‚Äôs family, which might reflect naming the child after her brother and her father.

Just a few more points that in my mind strengthen this proposition:
a) Henry McCulloch signed his will with his mark, not a signature.

b) Arthur Dobbs ‚Äúcalls‚Äù Alexander an incompetent auditor who doesn‚Äôt know the method or account to check.Alexander receives only deputy or acting positions under Dobbs, with the exception of judge or justice of the peace.

c) Henry E didn‚Äôt appear to think much of Alexander‚Äôs son Benjamin. He replaced him with Cousin James Iredell as agent for Henry E in his position as Collector of Customs for the Port of Roanoke, NC.

London 5 May 1770 , Henry Eustace McCulloh to James Iredell: Ben: McCulloh seems to have made a great mistake in the first accot. (Nov. 1767) he settled with the Office, in my wrong, by an error of ¬£180. in casting up the debit side. See the Accot. I hope this has been set to rights: if not, I am sure no objection will arise to it from Mr. Hardy, and in that case, let the Sum be carried to the Credit of my accot. with him.

d) Lord Halifax did not want to give Henry McCulloch a position and tried to brush him off as perhaps a poorly prepared candidate.

These four points offer a sharp contrast to William, James, and Henry, son‚Äôs of JMG and his second wife, as successful Merchants in Dublin , Bristol , and London respectively. It is a very sharp contrast to Henry McCulloh (d 1779) who at the very least assists in influencing the decision for two successive North Carolina Governors, who provided the first significant draft of the Stamp Act of 1765 that started the Revolution. Charles Macartney also seems to be a successful merchant. Henry McCulloch (d 1755) and his ‚Äúson‚Äù Alexander come off as marginally educated ‚ÄúPlacemen‚Äù. A placeman is someone who receives his income from his placement in a government position. As placemen, Alexander and Henry (d 1755) depended on the favor of others (i.e relatives) to receive their place and income.

William, James, and Henry the sons of JMG and his second wife as well as Charles Macartney, married to JMG‚Äôs daughter by his first wife, had positions which generated their own income through trade without depending on the graciousness of others. This argues for Henry McCulloch being a ‚Äúbackwoods‚Äù Scotsman who married well and received his income through the offices of family and friends, in particular his brother-in-law Henry McCulloh. The fact that Alexander has a similar level of education and experience implies a greater connection to Henry (d 1755) than the other members of the family

e) In Henry McCulloch‚Äôs will probated in 1755, he names his ‚Äúgood friend‚Äù John Campbell as co-executor with his wife Mary McCulloch. If Alexander were Henry‚Äôs son, then John Campbell, married to the sister of Alexander‚Äôs wife, would be a logical choice for co-executor. He would be independent of the conflicts of interest that Alexander might have with everything going to his mother and 4 younger sisters. Yet, John would be close enough to the family to know and be trusted by everyone, and able to be sure that everyone got a fair deal.

f) Henry McCulloch shows up in NC for his brand new positions as Judge and Secretary on the 16th of Mar 1755. Arthur Dobbs writes an answer the next day probably to send by Henry‚Äôs boat as it returns. The very first thing he mentions before talking about politics, his accomplishments, or his family is Alexander McCulloch. The first sentence in his letter:

‚ÄúI last Sunday received y r favour of Aug: last by Secretary McCulloh who then arrived here, and Shall do any thing I can do for Aleck: McCulloh the auditor but at present there is no new fee Bill as the former was not repealed.‚Äù

E-mail update 12 July 08 from Bob Epperson:

I recently received an extract of McCulloch wills from the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) which indicated that William McCulloch of Piedmont eldest son of James McCulloch of Groggan (presentday spelling) had three sons James of Calmy, William later of Calmy, and a Henry. This information combined with the Trust of 25 Oct 1755 between James McCulloch and Mary McCulloch (the secretary‚Äôs widow), which you sent me, appear to indicate that Secretary Henry was the younger son of William of Piedmont. The Trust then made his eldest brother James of Calmy trustee for his New South Sea Annuity. From the trust we can say that James of Calmy died about 1776 and was succeeded by his second brother William. I find reference to a will for William of ‚ÄúCamoly‚Äù probated in 1800. I also find that the townland of Camly is still known as Camly McCulluagh. This is consistent with James Iredell squeezing Secretary Henry into his genealogy with the sons of William of Piedmont. The selection of James of Calmy as a trustee is also consistent with the concept of ‚Äúdoing business with family‚Äù or some connection one can trust, which is so prevalent in the activities of the McCulloch/McCulloh family as well as other families of the time.

This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!using analysis by Bob Epperson of James Iredell’s Genealogy of the McCulloch Family

1746 – appointed naval officer at Cape Breton, which had been recently captured and held the post until it was handed back in 1748

Returned to England and spent five years without employment, constantly beseeching the assistance of the Duke of Newcastle and bemoaning his large family.

1754 – 21 June – Henry McCulloch was appointed the Secretary of North Carolina
Member of the Excutive Council of North Carolina
– 6 Dec – Officer or Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court of North Carolina
Henry arrived in NC on 16 Mar 1755 and died 27 Oct 1755.

e-mail from Bob Eppersonexcerpt from North Carolina Genealogical Journal Vol 26, No 2 May 2000, pg 207
McCULLOCH’S DAUGHTERS — Job Parker renounced his right of administration of his wife Penelope Parker who was one of the daughters and legal representatives of Henry McCulloch, Esq. formerly Secretary of the Province of North Carolina deceased and expressed his desire that administration be committed to Capt. Joseph Meredith who married Elizabeth also one of the daughters of Henry McCulloch. [From: Minutes of Chowan County, North Carolina, Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, March Term 1788, North Carolina Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.]

I also have copies of two letters from James Iredell to Henry Eustace McCulloh, son of the land speculator, indicating that Penelope ‚ÄúPoppy‚Äù was deceased and only Dolly and Betsy remained of the daughters of Henry McCulloch, Secretary. Iredell indicates that Betsy was married to Capt Meredith, which fits with the attached information.

From the analysis by Bob Epperson of James Iredell’s Family History.
Iredell then proceeds to mention the second son, Henry. The Henry he describes is Secretary Henry (d 1755) and his two daughters still living. This is the major ‚Äútypo‚Äù in the genealogy. We will discuss it later. The accuracy of this reference to Secretary Henry and his daughters is verified by Burke‚Äôs ‚ÄúHistory of The Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol II, 1834‚Äù detailing the marriage of Secretary Henry‚Äôs daughter Dorothea Beresford McCullogh to James McClintock of Traintagh, Co Donegal, Northern Ireland about 1763. Dorothy became the Great-great-grandmother of Field Marshall Viscount Bernard Law Montgomery, Eisenhower‚Äôs Deputy for the D-Day Invasion of France.

One thought on “Col. Alexander McCoulloch & Sarah Hill”

Secretary Henry (d 1755) was the son of William McCulloch of Piedmont and nephew of Henry the land speculator in NC.
I have derived this from the will of William McCulloch of Piedmont (29 Dec 1743) in which he states that his son Henry “has already been provided for in a letter of credit from his brother Henry in North Carolina”.
Henry’s (d 1755) mother was Dorothy Beresford Shaw whose parents were William Shaw of Ballygally and Margaret Upton.

Just to confuse things further, there were two Dorothy Beresford McCullochs.
The one referred to in Burke‚Äôs ‚ÄúHistory of The Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol II, 1834‚Äù who married James McClintock, was the daughter of Henry McCulloch of Ballyarton Co. Derry and Anne Crawford of Crawfordsburn.
This Henry McCulloch of Ballyarton (d 1771) was the son of Henry McCulloch of Feehogue, a brother of James of Grogan.